The top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs rolled past the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday afternoon, with a final score of 45-3. It was a much better performance offensively and defensively than last week’s game against UT-Martin for the Bulldogs.
Georgia started off the game shaky after a surprisingly scoreless first quarter, until they came to life in quarter number two. The Bulldogs’ unlikely early season star Mekhi Mews got the scoring started, with an explosive 69-yard punt return touchdown.
When asked about making big plays as a walk-on Mews responded with, “It’s almost surreal. I don’t try to get too much into that and try and do my job as a player.” Its not the first time Bulldog fans have seen walk-ons make big plays of course, after former quarterback Stetson Bennett used some of his own to lead them to back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.
The Bulldogs would go on to score three more touchdowns in the second quarter to take a commanding 31-0 lead going into halftime. In the second half they scored 14 more unanswered points, with true freshman Roderick Robinson’s 12 yard run into the endzone proving to be the final score of the day for the Dawgs. Ball State finally put themselves on the board courtesy of a late field goal, with 9:05 left to play.
Carson Beck led Georgia with 300 total yards, and two touchdown throws. The Bulldogs only totaled 99 rushing yards on the day with Robinson being the team leader at 38 yards, along with his late touchdown run.
For receivers, Oscar Delp and Arian Smith each had 50 receiving yards to lead Georgia, while another walk-on Cash Jones had an impressive 27 yard touchdown reception in the third quarter as well.
On the defensive end, Georgia impressed with three interceptions each by Tykee Smith, Malaki Starks and Chaz Chambliss. Bulldog Head coach Kirby Smart was asked about his team’s strong defensive effort in a post-game press conference.
“We didn’t catch the tipped balls last week and we caught the tipped balls this week. We took advantage of the opportunity they gave us.”
To give his perspective on the entire game Smart said, “I was proud of the energy and enthusiasm that sparked us. I was really excited about that. [Mekhi] Mews continues to do that and he provides energy.”
Meanwhile for the opposing Ball State Cardinals, they struggled defensively and couldn’t find consistent ways to move the ball all day and keep up with the high-powered Bulldogs. However the outcome of today’s game for them is the expectation, when smaller schools like themselves play big schools such as Georgia.
Aljareek Malry’s interception and Keionte Newson’s forced fumble were bright spots for the Cardinals on the day.
Next up in Georgia’s quest for a third straight national title is a home date with Spencer Rattler and the South Carolina Gamecocks next Saturday, their conference play opener. It stands as the first real test of the year for the Bulldogs.
On the other hand for Ball State they head back home to Indiana next weekend, to take on in-state rival Indiana State. They will be looking to pick up their first win of the new season.
